Murray still beating the bushes

According to a story published in the OC Register Ducks GM Bob Murray is watching those teams with cap issues. The GM also says he has money for Teemu Selanne. Sound cap management should include ample space to move players in and out of the lineup as warranted. Remember a couple of years ago when the Calgary Flames played a few games with a very short bench due to cap mismanagement? We were very nearly in that same predicament recently.

With a reported $4.3m in cap space Murph must have the go ahead to spend to the cap ceiling. He must also be expecting Teemu to take a significant pay cut from last season.

A run down of the CapGeek front page indicates that those teams over the cap if the season started today are Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Los Angeles, Detroit, Edmonton, Columbus and Minnesota.

Murray reportedly thinks September will be an interesting month as teams make players available to get cap compliant. The OCR speculates, as I have, that our Ducks see themselves as set at center. At least for the first 20 games into the season.

With Toni Lydman expected to retire and Murph committed to seeing what Vatanen can do, it’s difficult to see what positions another move might involve. Following the Bobby Ryan trade, Murph did say that he wasn’t done making moves for next season.

If he’s going to bring Teemu back and leave room for player movement any trade will have to involve a contract or two leaving Anaheim. In other words, roster players. This reality suggests Murph is likely to go big or stand pat.

In this cap crunch season there just isn’t anyone out there more exciting or promising than bringing back Teemu Selanne and/or Vinny Prospal.

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Prospal had a good season in Columbus. His stats 2012-2013 were almost identical to Bobby Ryan’s. But we cannot expect him to be better the next season. He is 38, and when he was with the Ducks the last time, he did not like it here. But he wants to stay in the NHL. How much money does he want? He had 2.5 m last year.

I wasn’t aware of that cz. Was it the team, coach or the city that Vinny didn’t like.
$2.5 – 3m is probably what Murray will offer Teemu. I’m more concerned about Gabby committing to Top 6 TOI and 1st unit PP.
It doesn’t sound like Teemu is willing to accept a diminished role. The other problem with Teemu returning is why? Is he coming back for our Ducks or the Olympics? Maybe that’s what Murray was alluding to when he said, “Teemu has to tell him he’s 100% committed.” “100% committed” could also mean be willing to accept a diminished role, if that’s in the best interest of the team.

With or without Teemu, the roster may be pretty much set at least into the first 20 games of the season.